Indonesia Discusses Military Equipment Maintenance with Russia

JAKARTA, -- Russia and Indonesia discussed the issue of maintenance of military hardware during a meeting between Russian Minister of Trade and Industry Denis Manturov and Indonesian defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu here on Friday.

"We discussed bilateral cooperation, including ways to bring about improvement in military equipment maintenance," Manturov said at a press conference.

He said he had also discussed bilateral cooperation in military equipment procurement.

Russia is as one of Indonesias source countries for main weapon system hardware for its military (TNI).

Manturov had earlier also met with President Joko Widodo and the countrys minister of economy.

At the meeting, they also discussed cooperation in the economic field, including palm oil and fish exports to Russia.

They also discussed non-tariff barriers that need to be scrapped.

With regard to infrastructure, they discussed railway development in East Kalimantan as well as development of aluminum and bauxite smelter, nickel processing and aviation cooperation with PT Dirgantara, besides shipbuilding and pharmaceutical industries.

"Russia has asked for support to smoothen the process of its investment in the country," chief economic minister Darmin Nasution said.